Motorcyclist Killed in Crash Identified

THE LEDGER

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 10:13 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 10:13 a.m.

LAKELAND | Stephen Rosenquist, 36, from Pasco County, has been identified by deputies as the man killed when his motorcycle collided with a school bus Tuesday on Rockridge Road just east of Ranchland Drive in North Lakeland.

About 2 p.m. Tuesday, Rosenquist’s 2008 Buell motorcycle was headed west on the Rockridge Road as a Polk County School bus driven by 75-year-old Thomas Murphy of Sandpiper Drive, Lakeland, was travelling east, approaching Ranchland Drive.

Murphy, who was wearing a seatbelt, stopped at the intersection of Ranchland Drive to make a left turn, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said. Murphy waited for a car to pass through the intersection and made the left turn. In mid turn, the motorcycle struck the bus in the middle of the passenger side, deputies said.

The impact caused the motorcycle to break in half, sheriff’s spokeswoman Donna Wood said. She said Rosenquist, who was wearing eye protection but no helmet, appears to have died instantly. Murphy and his two passengers were uninjured.

<p>LAKELAND | Stephen Rosenquist, 36, from Pasco County, has been identified by deputies as the man killed when his motorcycle collided with a school bus Tuesday on Rockridge Road just east of Ranchland Drive in North Lakeland.</p><p>About 2 p.m. Tuesday, Rosenquist's 2008 Buell motorcycle was headed west on the Rockridge Road as a Polk County School bus driven by 75-year-old Thomas Murphy of Sandpiper Drive, Lakeland, was travelling east, approaching Ranchland Drive. </p><p>Murphy, who was wearing a seatbelt, stopped at the intersection of Ranchland Drive to make a left turn, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. Murphy waited for a car to pass through the intersection and made the left turn. In mid turn, the motorcycle struck the bus in the middle of the passenger side, deputies said.</p><p>The impact caused the motorcycle to break in half, sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said. She said Rosenquist, who was wearing eye protection but no helmet, appears to have died instantly. Murphy and his two passengers were uninjured.</p><p>Deputies continue to investigate the accident.</p>